Electric welding machine



April 16, 1929.

A. M. ST ANLE Y ET AL ELECTRIC WELDING MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 25. 1921 llSheets-Sheet i April 16, 1929. A. M. STANLEY ET AL ELECTRIC WELDING MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 25. 1921 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 APril 1 929. A. M. STANLEY ET AL 7 1,708,977

ELECTRIC WELDING MACHINE ll Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Nov. 25, 1921 I April 5, 1929. A. M. STANLEY ET AL 1,708,977

ELECTRIC WELDING MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 25. 1921 ll Sheets-Sheet 4 J gy- April 16, 1929. A. M. STANLEY ET AL 1,708,977

ELECTRIC WELDING MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 25, 1 21 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 1 1929- A. M. STANLEY ET AL ELECTRIC WELDING MACHINE ll Sheets$heet 6 Original Filed Nov. 25, 1921 April 16, 1929.

A. M. STANLEY ET AL ELECTRI G WELDING MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 25,

1 ll Sheets-Sheet '7 April 16, 1929.

A. M. STANLEY ET AL ELECTRIC- WELDING MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 25, 1921 ll Sheets-Sheet 8 April 1929. A. M. STANLEY ET AL 1,708,977

ELECTRIC WELDING MACHINE Original Filed NOV. 25. 1921 ll Sheets-Sheet 9 April 16, 1929. A. M. STANLEY ET AL ELECTRIC WELDING MACHINE 'ariginal Filed Nov.

ll Sheets-Sheet l0 April 16, 1929. A. M. STANLEY ET AL 1,798,977

ELECTRIC WELDING MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 25, 1921 11 Sheets-Sheet 11 Patented Apr. 16, 1929.

s wa UNITE!) sra'rss PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR M. STAHLEY, LYNN, All JAMES SIMS, OF QUINCY, MASSACH'USETTS,

ASSIGNGES STANLEY STEEL EEZELLDED WHEEL CORPORATION, OF BOSTON, MAS- SACHUSETTS, A 0013.263

TION F DELAVIARE.

ELECTRIC VJ ELDIN G MACHINE.

Application filed. November 25, 1921, Serial No. 5173459. Renewed June '2, 1928.

This invention relates to a welding machine and more particularly to a machine for automatically hutt-welding the hub sections of a steel vehicle wheel.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine for automatically butt-welding the hub sections of a steel vehicle Wheel in an advantageous and economical manner.

lVith this general object in View one tea ture-of the invention resides in the provision of mechanism for automatically handling the wheel sections to be welded to position such sections with relation to Welding electrodes and in the automatic operation of the electrodes for accomplishing the desired welding operation. Another feature of the invention resides in the construction and mode of operation of the electrode operating mechanism by which the, welding operation is performed in a uniform manner irrespective of variations in the size and construction of the sections of the wheel to be welded.

Other features of the invention reside in the combinations and arrangements of parts of the machine, as will be hereinafter described and particularly pointed outin the claims.

The drawings illustrate a machine for automatically butt-welding the hub sections of a steel vehicle wheel of the type disclosed in the Stanley Patent No. 1,168,222, dated January 11, 1916. In the preferred manner oi manufacture of such wheels the spokes of each. half of the Wheel are welded to their respective hub flanges beforlions are butt-welded. The spokes may be thus welded to the hub flanges by a machine of the construction illustrated and described in an application for U58. Letters Patent filed by us on even date herewith. After the hub sections have been butt-welded spokes and the rim sections themselves are Welded in the manner described in said application to form the completed wh= in the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine; Fig. 2 a plan view of the machine; Fig. 3 left end elerntion oi the macl'iine; Fig. is a partial right end elevation; rig. 51s a vertical lo: udinal sectional e a on of the machin (3 is a detail 0 1e drum and wheel osit; Y i inentihers' in elevation; Fig. '5 a secti n..; elevation-of the devices welding electrodes.

the hub sec-.

the

shown in Fig. '6; Fig. 7 a partial sec tion of same, showing collars adapted for rear hub section; Fig. 8 is a plan view of the electrode holders and compensating mechanism; Fig. 9 is a'vertical longitudinal section through the same taken on the line 99 of Fig. 8;.Fig. 10 is an end elevation of electrode mountings; Fig. 11 is a sectional detail of the compensating mechanism on the line 1111 of Fig. 8; Fig. 12 is a perspective detail of one expanding electrode; Fig. 13 is a sectional detail of drive on the line 13-13 of Fig. 4; Fig. 14: is a sectional detail through. drum drive taken on the line i l-14 of Fig. 4-; Fig. 15 is a sectional detail of rack and pinion of electrode'control on the line 15- -15 of Fig. 4; Fig. 16 is a comparative detail of electrode controlling cam" Fig. 17 is a do. i l of the cut-oi? switch; F g. 18 1s a detall'of the Geneva drive for the drum; F 19 is a detail of the Geneva drive for the electrode cams; and Fig. 20 is a plan vieW of the timer.

Referring to the drawings the machine illustrated therein comprises in general a plurality of wheel holding jigs mounted upon disks arranged to rotate in a vertical plane. The two sections of the wheel to be welded are assembled in one of the jigs and the latter is thereafter automatically moved into a posit-ionto he acted upon by The welding electrodes are arranged to be moved toward one another and to extend into the interior of the hub of the wheel. Provision. is made for mechanically operating the electrodes to grip the interior of the hub of the heel and. for causing the Welding current to flow fora sufiicient period oftime only to form operating mecompensating the intermediate spoke.

for small variations in the lengths of the hub sections in order that welded wheels of standard length of hub may be automatically produced.

Referring to the drawings, the wheel holding 10 each comprise a pair of brackets 12 bolted to and insulated from disks 1 1, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The disks 14 are mounted upon a supporting shaft 16 fixed in lugs 18 in the machine frame. Each bracket 12 is provided with a collar 20, preferably of copper, having an open radial slot 22 for the reception of the ends of the hubs of each half of the wheel. The collars 20 are screwed to the brackets 12. The shape of the collars 20 for use in connection with the front wheels of a motor vehicle are shown in Fig. 7, while Fig. 7 shows the arrangement for the rear wheels. In the assembling position A, see Fig. 3, the open ends of the slots 22 extend upwardly and to the right, view- Fig. 3, so that when the sections of wheel to be welded.- are assembled in jig, the weight of the wheel serves to retain the wheel section in the slots. After the wheel holding jig has been turned into the welding position B the open ends of the slots extend upwardly to the left, so that the weight of the wheel serves to retain it in the slots. Finally after the jig has been turned into the unloading position C the slots extend in a direction to permit the welded wheel to be readily withdrawn therefrom.

In order to position the wheel sections within the wheel holding so as to maintain the peripheral portions of each in the same desired relation to one another during the welding operation, retaining pins 34, 36 are provided. One set of retaining pins 3 extend from one bracket 12 and are arranged to engage the adjacent surfaces of alternate spokes, as shown in Fig. 6, and the second set of retaining pins 36 embrace The wheel sections are positioned so as to maintain the ends of the spokes of each in a single plane by adjacent screws 88, 39 and 4:0, two of which extend from one of the brackets 12 and enthe flattened end portions of alternate spokes, while the third adjusting screw extends from the second bracke and engages the opposite side of the intermediate spoke.

The distance between the brackets 12 and supporting disks 14 determines the width of the wheel hub, and in order that wheels having hubs of different widths may be welded in the present machine, provision is made for adjustably varying the relative position of the disks 14.. To this end one of the disks 1% (see Fig. i") is secured to a sleeve 3'? through which the shaft 16 is extended by a key 43 arranged to permit bled in one of the wheel holdin, j in the disk to slide lengthwise of the sleeve, and in order to secure the disk in adjusted position upon the sleeve, spanner nuts 11, 42 are arranged to abut the ends of the hub of the dis 1 being screwed upon threaded portions of the sleeve. The second disk 14 is keyed directly to the sleeve. Reenforcing stay bolts id are provided at a plurality of points in the periphery of the disks 1 1-, the stay bolts being extended tln'ough the disks and having lock nuts engaging the opposed outer surfaces of the disks.

During the operation of the machine the wheel holding jigs 10 are intermittently rotated through successive steps of 90 degrees each, about the shaft 16, and for this purpose the revolutions of the main driving shaft 50 (see Figs. 5 and 13) driven from a suitable source of power, as will be described, are transmitted to the sleeve 37 upon which the wheel holding are mounted, through spur gears 52, o l, the latter being mounted upon the intermediate shaft 56, through the beveled gears 58, 60, through a vertical shaft 62 and a second set of beveled gears 64-, 66 to a second intermediate shaft 68. The revolutions of the intermediate shaft 68 are intermittently transmitted to the sleeve 37 through Geneva gears 70, 72,

the latter being keyed directly to the sleeve beyond the stationary disk 14, as shown in Fig. 7. The design of the Geneva gears, as illustrated in Fig. 18, such to produce the intermittent rotations of the wheel holding through successive angles of 90 degrees each. The Geneva gears also operate to afford a period of dwell after each ad vance of the wheel holding to afford opportunity for the welding operations to be performed. Furthermore, the Geneva gears operate to lock the wheel holding jigs during such period of dwell.

After the wheel sections have been m- A p tion A (see Fig. 3) the wheel holding and wheel sections are advanced into position B in which the welding operatirms are performed. After the wheel er Lions have arrived in welding position, internal clcctrodes 80 are mover toward ach other through the opposed hub se tions and inlr. the interior thereof. Each internal electrode 80 is mounted in an electrode holder :-ccured in ant. insulated from an upper reciprocating carriage S l. The electrodes at are adjustable with relation to the electrode holders 82, and for tlis purpose spammnuts are screwed onto the threaded ends 00 of the electrodes, as shown in F 9. Tue upper carriages 8i slide in ways in the ma chine frame, and provision. is made for mov the carriages to move the electrodes int-o an operative position within the hub sections of the wheel. in timed relation i. ments of the wheel holding ll i CII

after a wheel holding has moved into welding position the electrodes 80 are inn mediatelymoved into the interior oil-the hub sections of the wheel. Accordi the upper carriages 8 1 are provided an depending lugs 88, having holes through which bolts 90 are extended, the latter being threaded into the end portions of lower carriages 87 also mounted to slide in ways in the machine frame. A coiled spring 92 einbra each bolt being received within a cylindrical recess in the end portion of each lower carriage 87 and one end of each spring aouts a depending lug 88, and the second end abuts the second carriage. Stop nuts are provided upon the inner end of the bolts 90 and serve to afford an initial adjustment of the relativeposition of the upper and lower riages. Both carriages are moved into an inoperative position by a weight 100v connected. by a flexible cable 102 running over an idler pulley 10s to the lower carriage 87, so that during the movement of the Wheel holding from one position to another the electrodes 80 and both carriages 84, 87 are bodily moved into an inoperative position under the influence of the weight, controlling ams, as will be described, permitting the weight to operate at such times.

In order to move the electrodes 80 from their inoperative position into the interior of the hub sections of the wheel, the lower carriages are provided with racks 110 with which pinions 112 cooperate. The pinions 112 are mounted upon a counter shaft 114 (see Fig. 15) journaled in the machine :t'rame. A second pinion 116, also mounted upon the shaft 11%, engages vertical racks 118, 1&8 (see Fig. The vertical racks 118, 148, are reciprocated by controlling cams 120, 121, mounted upon a. cam shaft 122. The movements of the cam 120 are transmitted to the rack 118 through a cam roll 12s oui naled in a yoke 126 through which a rod is extended. The rod 128 extends through a longitudinal hole in the rack 118, and stop washers and nuts 130, 132 adjustably secure the rack n fixed relation to the rod. The yoke 12% is secured to the rod by a key 13 1 and nut 1556 pinned to the lower end thereof. The design of the cam 120 is illustrated in Fig. 16, and from aninspection of Fig. 16 it will be apparent that as the cam roll 124i passes in contact with a portion oi the cam a, the cam roll litte" and this movement is transmitted throi the rack and pinions to one electrode causing the latter to move inwardly into the interior of the hub to a predetermined p tion. Further movement of the cam 120 operates to hold the electrode in this lined position,a portion 5 of the cam being concentric.

The movements of the second controlling cam 121 are transmitted to-the second ternai electrode SOby a cam roll 1 journaled in a sleeve 14-2 within which a heavy coiled spring 144- is received. The coiled spring 1 1 embraces a portion of a rod 1&6 the upper end of which extended through a longitudinal hole in a rack 148. Stop nuts and washers 156, 158 adjustably secure the rack in fixed relation to the rod. The upper end of the coiled spring 14 1 abuts a washer 150 adjustably secured in fixed relation to the red 1416 by a stop nut 152. The 'asher 150-co1nprises a portion of a pressure in dicating mechanism to be described. A lock nut 15% is pinned to the end of the rod 1%. The: design of the earn 121 is illustrated in Fig. 16, and it will be observed that as the cam roll 1 10 rides upon. the portion d of the cam, illustrated in dotted lines, the electrode 80 is moved into the interior of the hub of the second wheel section, and until the inclined shoulder 170 upon the electrode holder 82 engages the corresponding inclined As the cam roll 14:0 ride; over the portion c: 6 a7 ofthe cam 121 the lower carriage 8'? moves relatively to the upper carriage 8% until the end of the carriage S? is brought into engagement with the depending lug 88. As the cam roll continues around on'the portion f, the gradually increasing eccentricity oi the earn 121 servesto compress the spring 144 (see Fig. 5) and to storc'up energy in the same. During the traverse ot the portion g of the cam the parts are maintained in their operative position, the portion g being concentric. In such position, it will be observed, and in fact during the entire welding operation the ends of both electrodes 80' are spaced a short distance anart so that when the welding current is turned on, flows from one electrode through the metal of the two hub sections to the second. electroec.

The canshaft 122, upon which both con trolling cams 120, 121 are mounted, is intermi ntly "driven in timed relation to the movements of the wheel holding jigs troni the main driving shaft (see Fig. 13) through spur 52, 54, the latter being mounted upon the i ermediate shaft 56, and through Geneva gears 57, mounted upon the hub of the gear 5 1, and the extended end oi the (a; shaft 122 respectively. The de .he inoveine "'on she enga 91 at with e hub ,and iwhich erought into its staportion. of the hub, as illustrated in Fig. 9.

ill)

all)

The nuts irodx as shown in Fig. 12, comprises u pluralily of cylindrical segments separated by slot. The into 121' surfaces ol the segments are .siu-h as to lorm it tapered hole in which an ex mndingg cone 180 received The e:-: panning cones 180 are termed on the end of rods 182 onto-need thrii 1 holes in the elee trodes and uppei e cs, as shown in Fig.

filecoinl rods 184; are connected by in- ;1 lied couplings to the endo of the rods loQ and coiled springg lib embrace the outer ends oi the rods 184-. One end of the coiled abut slop collars betu'oen wh ch and stop nuts 192 yokes 196 are received. The j/okes 198 are formed upon the ends of lovers 200, fulcrumed upon pins 202. Nuts 189 on the outer ends of the rods 184.- cuable adjuslmentol" tension in springs 188.

192 afford adjustment lor the inilil posil'i; 1 oi the expanl'ling (once; 180. (1 the lower end of the pins 202 (see Fig. levers 206 are eecured connected to l lflClCGiS 208 upon the lower carriages 87 ll lovemcnt of the lower carriages during; the period of relative movement between t em and. the upper carriages, operates through ll e linkage just described to move the rods 184. out- .i om each side 0" l'he machine, the coiled e )rings 188 being COHlPl'QSSGCl at such lime. In this manner the expanding; cones 180 are drawn into the tapered holes Wiillill the electrodes and operate to expan d them tightly against lhe interior or the hubs.

After the electrodes 80 have been expand ed agg oinst the. interior ii the lnibs provision is made 'lor automatically turnin5 on the welding current at this time, and for this purpose an automatic commutator is mounted upon one end of the cam shaft 122, as and The comshown in lligs. i inutator comprises copper anl'lihre see; inents 220, 222, secured to and insulated from the cam shaft.

lwo brushes preleably of carbon, cooperate with segments. The brush. 22 lis stationary, being mounted in a bracket 230 aliixed lo a 55;: mental b sachet 232, itself bolted to a portion 238 of the frame, as shown in lFi; The second brush 226 is adjustable, being mounted in a movable bracket 24-0 arranged to swing about the segmental bracket 232.

A clamping; bol1 se= us to secure the mo *z'lble brush in nienlx which in It will 3e observed that the lhe current cul oil from the relation to their operating 7 0, iii, inuy be a icd by movement r 1e adjustable brush 2' i. The time at woich the current comes on, houmer, in being; controlled by the i lhis manner it mode; 80 have current is iml llllliy be i,

cu rent has been turned \i re manner described, the temperature u oi: the hub S(('il(1}1S to be welded and when lhe melal has ne v healed to llow, provision is r turning the desired flash. Re-

m to 8, S and 11, the relative movement between the r ht h d lower car riage 87 and upper carriage S- is utilized. not only in expand the electrode S but also 0 prepare and operate a conipenslalii51;; which variations in the of e ection are taken car oi end that Welded huh oi" tinder-d may he produced. For this purpose extended through a yoke 302 "on 'lho side the upper 'arshown in Fig. 8. The rod 300 l inwardly by a coiled l mg the 1( 'l and one end abuts a stop coll; 30G pinned to i i "he second end thereof abuts an e screv 310, Stop nuts 312 serve the inward movement 'od.

i or kill fill 250 upon the end of the glv held against a plunger l. 200 21', viel 350 (nee Fig. ll. during; the relative niovcmeet the carriages. The plunger I350 sliuc ("'ilil lricel hole 41.2 in a bearing bloc poled upon the top oi the machine i i-a The ph O is normally maintained in an exleiuied i ion by a heavy coiled spring 1 l) adjusl'zibi mai tained under compres- 1 n by an adjus screw 420 held in ad- I s'ed position b a lock out Stop nuts 2%- upon the end of the plunger stem B51 serve to limitthe outward movement of the ilunger. A portion all of the rod 230i) l t LMBROOD; adapted when turned down t: abut a sur'lzzce 320 upon the end of the 3 302. The pinion out $316 is rotated threaded portion oi. the

hreaded and pinion nut 31.6 is screwed l l lli lil actuated by the relative carriages S4, 87. Such (:5 a rack 1:575 secured to big received in a bearing zded upwardly from the top l o (T slid rod member 379 one of the yoke, 3 )2. the rod 3?? is provided with adjnslimle stop nuts 380, and a yoke 382 fllllliloll upon the end of a bell crank 38%, pivd sired position of oted at 386 upon the upper carriage 84, embraces the portion of the rod beyond the stop nuts 380. One arm of the bell crank 384 is connected by a link 390 to one end of a lever 392 pivoted upon the fulcrum rod 202 (see Figs. and 8). The relative movement or scribed in connection with the expansion of the electrodes 80, operates to rock the fulcrum rod 202-and consequentlyto swing the lever 392 outwardly. In this manner thehell crank 384 is oscillated upon its pivot thus withdrawing the yoke 382 from engagement with the stop nuts 380 and permitting a weight 400 connected by a cable 402 over an idler pulley 404 to the end of the rod 377 to pull the rod outwardly and thereby through the rack 375 to screw downthe pinion nut 316 into engagement with the shoulder or surface 316 is initially adjusted upon the threaded portion 314 of the rod 300 so that with huh sections of standard length the travel imparted to the rack 375 by the relative movement of the upper and lower carriages is sufficient to screw down the pinion nut against the shoulder 320. Thereafter when the portions of the hub to be welded attain welding temperature,the expansive force in the coiled spring 144 operates through the carriages to move the rod 300 until the end thereof strikes an adjusting screw 450, the movements of the parts at such time forming the flash. The adjusting screw 450 is screwed into a threaded hole 451 in the lower portion of the block 414. The adj ustment of the screw 450 may be conveniently effected by a wrench or other tool inserted over the squared end of the reduced end portion of the screw 450. The set nut 452 is provided to maintain the screw 450 in adjusted position. During the movement In the event that the lengths of the hub;

sections are greater than the standard length, then in the movement of the carriages 84, 87 inwardly, the shoulder 170 upon the end of the electrode holder 82 is brought up against the inclined portion of the hub at an earlier point in-the inward travel of the carriages, so that the position of the rod 300 with respect to the yoke 302 upon the upper carriage, is at the startof the relative movement between the carriages, farther to the left (viewing Fig. 11) than would be the case were hub sections of normal or standard length to be welded, so that the pinion nut 316 after having been screwed down by the action of the rack 375 during the relative movement of the carriages, is still separated from the shoulder 320 by a The position of the pinion nutshort space, depending upon the increased length of the hub sections over tlieirnormal or standard length. The parts remain in such position until the metal reaches weld ng temperature at which tlme the upper carriage'is moved inwardly under the expanthe upper and lower carriages as has been de* sion of the heavy coiled spring 144 and until the shoulder 320 upon the yoke 302 is brought into abutment with the pinion nut 316. Thereafter the movement of the upper carriage continues under the expansion of the coiled spring 144 until the end of the rod 300- brings up against the end of the adjusting screw 450, the plunger 350 moving inwardly, compressing the coiled spring 410 (which is lighter than the coiled spring 144) and operating to open the cut off switch 421 to out off the. welding current. It will be observed that when long hub sections are to be welded a flash of increased height is turned up thus enabling the length of the welded hub to be maintained a standard amount. On the other hand, when hub sections below the standard length are encountered the inclined shoulder 170 finds the inclined portion of the hub at a time later in the inward travel of the carriages with the result that the rod 300 is positioned at the start of the relative movement between the carriages, farther to the right with relation to the upper carriage than in the ease of the hub sections of standard length, the increased strength of the coiled spring 410 operating to move the rod 300 outwardly with relation to the yoke 302, the coiled spring 304 compressing at such time, so that during the relative movement of the carriages the pinion nut 316 is screwed down against the shoulder 320. I/Vhen, therefore, the welding temperature in the metal is attained, the rod 300' is moved along with the carriages underthe influence of the expansion of the coiled spring 144 until the end of the rod is brought up against the end of the adjusting screw 450, so that in this manner the length of the welded hub is retained at a standard amount. It will be observed that in the case of hub sections below standard length the flash turned up is of less height than the standard flash. In practice the variations in the lengths of the hub sections are relatively small so that in any event a strong and durable weld isv obtained. 7

In order to afford visible indication of the amount of pressure exerted by the coiled spring 144 during the final welding opera tion in which the flash is up-turned, provision is made for indicating this pressure. To this end a pointer 480 is arranged to cooperate with a graduated scale 482, as shown in Figs. 5 and 14. The pointer 480 is actuated through frictional engagement of a pinion 486 actuated by a rack 488, itself moved by the movements of the spring 144 exerted'against the washer 150 rigidly 0011- nectcd to the rack. The graduated scale is calibrated to indicate in units of pressure the relative compression or elongation of the spring.

The cut off switch 421 C(HllPt'lSOS a stationary member 430 and a movable member 432, the latter being yieldingly maintained in contact with the stationary member L30 by a coiled spring 434, as shown in Fi ll. The stationary and movable members 4-30, are mounted upon a bracket 436 bolted to the machine frame, and terminal posts 439, 440, connecting the members 130 and 432 are arranged as shown in detail in Fig. 17.

The current for performing the Welding operation is supplied from a source of sup ply (not shown) to the commutator 83 mounted upon the end of the cam shaft 122. From the commutator the current is conducted through a rheostat illustrated diagramn'iatically at 500 mounted upon the machine frame and by which the amplitude of the current may be adjustably controlled by the operator. From the rheostat 500 the current is led to the primary winding 502 of a transformer, the secondary 504: of which is connected directly to the electrode holders 82, as illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 1. The cut offswitch 421. is interposed into the primary circuit to cut oil the welding current in advance of the opening of the circuit by the communtator.

The main driving shaft 50, by which the feeding mechanism for the wheel holding jigs and the electrode operating mechanism are actuated, is itself driven from an electric motor 490 or other source of power through a reducing gear train, illustrated generally by the reference 49 The design of the reducing gear train is preferably that disclosed in my co-pending application for welding machines, filed on even date herewith and to which reference may be had for a more detailed illustration.

In order to start and stop the machine a clutch, indicated generally at 4 94:, is provided, adapted to be operated manually by the lever 496. It is desirable that the clutch should be designed to cause the machine to be stopped at a predetermined position independently of the exact time at which the lever 4:96 is thrown out. The point in the cycle of operations of the machine at which it is most desirable'to stop the machine, is in the position assumed when the electrodes have been fully withdrawn from the hub sections of the wheel and just before the feedmechanism for the wheel holding jigs commences to present a succeeding wheel holding jig into welding position. The mechanism for actuating the clutch to accomplish this result comprises preferably that disclosed in my co-pending application above referred. to and to which reference may be had. Such mechanism comprises in general a cam 499 having a cam surface (not shown) with which a, plunger operated by the lever Q96 cooperates. The cam 499 is set in timed relation to the cycle of operations of the machine, so that when the lever 11% is thrown out the plunger eng :he cam and rides round it until broughtup against a cam surface to stop the mach ne at the dcsired point in the cycle of operations thereof, namely when the electrodes have been 'awn and before a succeeding step in the feeding of the wheel holding igs.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as'embodied in a machine for butt-welding the rims of a steel vehicle wheel, it is to be undm'stood that certain features of the invention may be used to advantage in welding other arti les as de fined in the following claims.

lVe claim:

1. A machine for butt-welding the hub sections of a vehicle wheel. having, in combination, welding electrodes, means for presenting a pair of hub sections to welding position, and electrode operating mechanism for performing the welding operation including expansible electrodes, and means for moving them into the interior of the hub sections and for thereafte' expanding the same to internally clamp the hub sections.

2. A machine for butt welding the hub sections of a vehicle wheel having, in com bination, welding electrodes, means for presenting a pair of huh sections to welding position, electrode operating mechanism for performing the welding operation, and means for iiiternally clamping the hub sec tions in welding position.

3. A machine for butt welding the hub sections of a vehicle wheel having, in c mbination, welding electrodes, a plurality of jigs for holdin 1 plurality of pairs of the hub sections to welded. means for moving the to present successive portions of the hub sections to welding position, means for internally clan'iping the hub sections in welding position, and electrode operating mechanism for thereafter perfin'ming the welding operation.

4;. A machine for butt welding the hub sections of a vehicle wheel having, in combination, welding electrodes spaced ap: plurality of for holding a pluralniy of pairs of hub sections, means for moving successive jigs to a position between the electrodes. devices for internally clamping the hub sections while in welding position, and means operating in timed relation to the movements of said for performing the welding operation.

5. A machine for butt welding the hub SXZUOUS of a vehicle wheel having, in combination, welding electrodes spaced apart,

means for holding a plurality of pairs of the Ill) Ill

' bination, a

hub sections to be welded, means for vertically rotating said holding means to pre sent successive hub sections to welding position between the rdectrodes, means for internally clamping'the hub sections in welding position, and means operating in timed relation to the movements of the wheel hold ing means for performing the welding operation.

6. A machine for butt welding the in: sections of a vehicle wheel comprising met-.1 for holding two hub sections with their inner ends in abutting relation, two electrodes positioned within the abutting hub sections and separated from one anoth r, means for expanding the electrodes to cause each electrode to grip the hub section within which it is positioned, and means for passing weld ing current through the electrodes and the metal of the hub sections therebetween.

7. A machine for butt welding the hub sections of a vehicle wheel having, in c0mbination, a frame, welding electrodes mounted thereon comprising two pairs of superposed carriages and exoansible clamping. means mounted upon the upper thereof, means for relatively moving the two sets of carriages to cause the clamping means to enter the interior of the hub sections and to move the hub sections into an abutting position, means for expanding said clamping means, means for turning on the welding current, and means for cutting ofi the welding current when the weld is formed.

8. A machine for butt welding the hub sections of a vehicle wheel having, in coinbination, a frame, electrodes mounted there on, one electrode comprising superposed carriages, means for moving said carriages to cause a portion of one thereof to engage one of the hub s ctions and to move it into abutting position with relation to the second huh section, means for exerting a yieliil' 'ig surc'upon said carriage during the Yi lding operation, and means actuated by mm i of said carriage when the weld is formed cutting oft the w lding current.

9. 11 machine i welding the ends of" pres-- but; hollow tubular members comprising means for holding the men'ibeis to be welded wi 2 their ends in abutting iii-elation, two ii'iternal electrodes positioned. within the members to be welded and spaced from one another, means for expanding the electrodes a gz" inst the members, and means for pass a ..e1ding current through the electrodes and the metal of the members therehetween.

10. A machine for but-r: welding sections of a vehicle wheel ha frame, welding c: and mombly es opera 1 inechaiii m superposed .arriagcs, one or rice an electrode, means tor relatively the after the welding curjigs for supporting successive rent has been turned on, and means actuated by such relative movement for compensating for variations in the lengths of the hub sections from a standard whereby welded. hubs of uniform length are produced.

11. A machine for butt welding the hub sections of a vehicle wheel, having, in com-- bination, a frame, welding electrodes spaced apart and movably mounted in the frame, electrodes operating mechanism including a pair of superposed carriages, one of which :arrics an electrode, means for relatively moving the carriages after the welding current has been turned on, and means actuated by such relative movement for compensating for variations in the lengths of the hub sections from a standard whereby weldedhuhs of uniform length are produced, said means including a rod mounted to move with one of the carriages, a knife switch arranged to be actuated by movement of the rod beyond a definite point, and means for relatively shifting the position of the rod and carria according to variations in the length of the hub sections to be welded,

12. A machine for butt welding the hub sections of a vehicle wheel having, in combination, welding electrodes, means for presenting a pair of hub sections to welding position, means for internally clamping the hub sections in welding position, and means for compensating during the welding operation for variations in the lengths of the hub sections from a standard.

13. In a machine for butt welding the hub sections of a vehicle wheel, the .:om-- bination of Welding electrodes, and means for presenting successive pairs of hub tions to welding position including a frame,

supporting members rotatably mounted the frame, a pluralityof carried bv the supporting members for l'iolding SUCOL ire pairs of hub sections, and means for intermittently rotating the supporting members.

, 1a. In a. macnine for butt welding the hub sections of a vehicle wheel, the cimihination of welding electrodes, and means for presenting surcessivc pairs of huh sectio to welding position including a plurality of pairs of hub sections provided with collars in which the ends of, the hub sect'sns are received, positioning pins cooperating with the spokes of the hub sections and adjustine l for vertically positioning the nub s ons with re lation to one another.

15. In a machine for butt welding the hub sections o-f'a vehicle wheel, the combination oft a frame, welding electrodes mounted thereon and capable of relative movement, clampin i for engaging the hub sections pres to position between the electrodes, and means actuated by relative movement of the electrodes for operating the clamping devices.

iii)

iii)

16. In a machine tor butt welding; the hub sections of a vchic wheel, the combination ot a frame, electrode mounted thereon, clamp" devices tor internally e ngagi ng the h sections and mechanism tor relativcly moving the chcr des into cngagw with the hub s .ons and tor opcratthe clampum devices.

iug'

l7. in a machine tor but-t sections ot a vehicle wheel. the combination including a car? upon which one electrode mount-ed, a second carriage upon which the ii. 11 *arriage slides, means for moving the carriages in unison until the hub sections brought in abutment and for thercal te permitting r lative movement between the carriages, and means actuated by the relative ine-iei'ncnt t'or operating the clamping devices.

18. in a machine for butt welding thehub sections of a vehicle wheel, the combination of a trame, welding electrodes mounted thereon, me: is for presenting a pair of hub sections to a position between the electrodes, each electrode havingan expansible end portion adapted upon relative movement of the elect; dos to enter the interior of the hub sections, means tor relatively moving the electrodes, and means for expanding the end portions ot the electrodes to internally clamp the hub sections.

19. In a machine for butt welding the hub sections of a vehicle wheel, the com )ination of a frame, welding elec rodes mounted thereon, means tor presenting a pair of hub sections to a position between the electrodes, each electrode having an on war sible end portion adapted upon relative movement of the electrodes to enter the interior ot the hub sections, means for relatively movingthe electrodes, means for expanding the end portions of the electrodes to internally clamp the hub sections, and means tor clampingthe hub sections longzjitudinally.

20. in a machine for butt welding the hub sections of a vehicle wheel, the combination of a frame, we Ling electrodes mounted thereon, means T01 automatically presenting successive pairs of hubsectious to a position between the electrodes, and means for moving the electrodes into engagement with. the hub sections including a shaft driven in timed relation to the movements ot the hub sections into welding position, and connections between the shaft and each electrode arranged to move one of the electrodes to a predetermined position and to move the other electrode toward the first electrode until the hub sections engaged by both electrodes.

21. In a machine tor butt welding the hub sections of a vehicle wheel, the cimibination oil. a frame, welding electrodes mounted thereon and capable o1 relative movement, means tor presenting a pair of hub sections to a position between the electrodes, means tor relatively moving the hub sections alter welding ten'lperaturc is attained to term a welded hub and means for detern'iining the movement oil. the hub sections during the welding operation to form a hub of a standard length irrespective of variations in the original lengths of the hub sections.

22. In a machine for butt welding the hub sections of a vehicle wheel, the combination of a frame, welding electrodes mounted thereon and capable o-l relative movement, means for presenting a pair of hub sections to a position between the electrodes, and means for forming a welded hub of standard length irrespective of variations in the original lengths ot the hub sections.

23. In a machine for butt weldingthe hub sections ol a vehicle wheel, the con'lbinatiou of a frame, welding electrodes mounted thereon and capable of relative movement to term atlush, means for presenting a pair of hub sections to a position between the electrodes, and means for tormiug a welded hub ct standard length irrespective of variations in the lengths of: the hub sections, said mca including mechanism for controlling the height of the flash directly in accordance with variations in the lengths of the hub sections trom a standard.

24. In a machine for butt welding the hub sections of a vehicle wheel, the combination of frame, electrodes spaced apart and mounted upon the frame, a movable carriage in which one electrode is mounted, a second carriage for moving the first carriage and capable of relative movement with relation thereto when the electrode has been moved into operative engagement with the hub sections to form a flash, and means controlled by the time of engagement of the electrode with the hub sections for control ling the heightof the flash formed during the welding operation directly in accord ance with variations in the lengths oi: the hub sections from a standard.

25. In a machine for buttwelding the hub sections of a vehicle Wheel, the combination of a frame, welding electrodes mounted thereon, means for positioning a pair of hub sections between the electrodes, and means for performing the Welding operation in cluding a pair of superposed carriages in the upper of which one electrode is mounted, means for moving the carriages until the hub sect-ions are brought into abutment, and for thereafter relatively moving the lower carriage with relation to the upper carriage, and mechanism for compensating for variations in the length of the individual hub sections from a standard including means carried by the upper carriage and arranged to be moved with relation thereto in accordance with the position in the travel of the upper carriage at which the hub sections are brought into abutment, so that when welding temperature is attained a flash is formed of a height proportionate to variations in the hub sections from a standard.

26. In a machine for butt weldingthe hub sections of a vehicle wheel, the combination of a frame, two welding electrodes mounted thereon, means for positioning'a pair of hub sections between the electrodes, means for forcing the hub sections into abutting position including two carriages movably mounted upon the frame and capable of relative movement, means for moving the carriages as a unit until the upper engages a hub section and forces the latter into abutment with the second hub section and for thereafter relatively moving said carriages, a cut off switch for cutting off the welding current, a member arranged when moved to operate the cut off switch, a second member I arranged to be engaged by the upper carriage to transmit the motion thereof to said first member to operate the cut off switch,

and connections between the second member accordance with the variations in the lengths of the hub sections from a standard.

27. In a machine for butt welding the hub sections of a vehicle wheel, the combination of a frame, two welding electrodes mounted thereon, means for positioning a pair of hub sections between the electrodes, means for forcing the hub sections into abutting position including two carriages movably mounted upon the frame and capable of relative movement, means for movingcthe carriages as a unit until the upper carriage engages a hub section and forces the latter into abutment with the second hub section and for thereafter relativelymoving said carriages, a cut off switch for cutting off the welding current, a rod arranged when moved to operate the cut off switch, a nut movably mounted upon the rod and adapted to be engaged by the upper carriage upon movement thereof in forming the weld, and means actuated by the relative movement of the carriages for adjustably positioning the nut upon the rod with relation to the upper carriage to compensate for variations in the lengths of the hub sections from a standard. 28. In a machine for butt welding the hub sectionsof a vehicle wheel, the combination of welding electrodes, means for presenting hub sections in welding position, and means for forming a welded hub of standard length irrespective of variations in the original lengths of the hub sect-ions.

ARTHUR M. STANLEY. JAMES E. SIMS. 

